Out & About
D.C. Black Pride celebrates ‘Ties That Bind’
Seminars, parties, concerts, picnics and more on packed schedule


D.C. Black Pride events are held throughout Memorial Day Weekend. (Washington Blade photo by Hugh Clarke)
The 27th annual D.C. Black Pride is at various locations in Washington this weekend.
Black Pride’s 2017 theme is “The Ties That Bind: Twenty Seven Years of Black Pride,” in celebration of the strong bonds within the LGBT community.
On Friday, May 26, there will be an opening reception at the Grand Hyatt (1000 H St., N.W.) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. LGBTQ Speed dating and networking will follow from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Omega Entertainment hosts “The Annual 5,000 Men Pride Mega Party” at Bliss Nightclub (2122 24th Pl., N.E.) from 9:30 p.m.-4 a.m. R&B singer K. Michelle will perform.
On Saturday, May 27 there will be the Grown Folks Speak Out 2017, a discussion about growing older in the black LGBT community, at the Grand Hyatt from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Admission is free. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served.
There will also be workshops throughout the day including resume writing and interview prep, overcoming hurt in the black church, understanding the trans-attracted man and more. A film festival, screening films such as “Moonlight” and “Check It,” runs from 2-7:15 p.m.
Omega Entertainment hosts “The Grandiose Fantasy Mega Pride Party” at the Washington Marriott (2660 Woodley Rd., N.W.) from 9 p.m.-3:30 a.m. featuring a live performance by Lil Kim.
There will be an interfaith worship service with guest speaker Pastor Mitchell Jones on Sunday from 9-11 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt. D.C. Black Pride Brunch is at Dirty Martini (1223 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from noon-6 p.m. with unlimited food and mimosas. Admission is $40.
On Monday, the annual Us Helping Us Picnic in the Park will be at Fort Dupont Park (3600 Minnesota Ave., S.E.) from noon-7 p.m. There will be food and live performances. Admission is free.
For a complete list of events and prices, visit dcblackpride.org.
OTHER EVENTS OF NOTE INCLUDE:
Big Boy Pride hosts its Big Boy Party at Living Room (1008 Vermont Ave., N.W.) on Friday, May 26 from 6-11 p.m. There will be drink specials and door prizes. Cover is $10. For more information, visit bigboypride.com.
Jaywalking Productions and Makers Lab host “Black Planet: A Black Pride Celebration” at Tropicalia (2001 14th St., N.W.) on Sunday, May 28 from 4-8 p.m. There will be performances by the CooLots, Pretty Boi Drag and Pinky KillaCorn. Music will be a mix of hip-hip, trap, house, ‘90s and more. Early bird tickets are $10 and regular admission is $15. For more details, visit jaywalkingproductions.com.
Monday Night Skating, an LGBT skating group, hosts a Black Pride Skate at Laurel Skate Center (9890 Brewers Ct., Laurel, Md.) on Monday, May 29 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. There will be a conga line, raffles and games. For more details, visit facebook.com/

Below are our picks for some of the most fun and creative things to do this week in the DMV that are of special interest to the LGBTQ community.
Silver Pride

UPDATE: Silver Pride was postponed; a new date is expected to be announced soon.
Join host Rayceen Pendarvis for ‘Back for the First Time: Silver Pride 2022″ at Studio Theatre this afternoon for a celebration of senior members of the LGBTQ+ community.
ASANA Series Opening Party

Tuesday, August 16
6:30-11 p.m.
Pitchers / ALOHO
2317 18th Street, N.W.
Facebook
The Amateur Sports Alliance of North America kicks off its ASANA World Series in D.C. with a party at Pitchers/ALOHO on Tuesday. The event is hosted by Ba’Naka and features special guests DJ Tracy Young, Tatiyanna Voché and E-Cleff.
NJB Hot Boy Summer Happy Hour

Thursday, August 18
6:30-9 p.m.
Number Nine
1435 P Street, N.W.
Facebook
The Nice Jewish Boys hold a happy hour on Thursday at Number Nine.
Kaftan Couture Happy Hour

Thursday, August 18
6 p.m.
Trade
1410 14th Street, N.W.
Facebook
The D.C. Boys of Leather mix it up with a kaftan party at Trade on Thursday.
LGBTQ+ Speed Friending

Friday, August 19
7-9 p.m.
Moxy Washington
1011 K Street, N.W.
Facebook | Eventbrite
Go Gay DC! hosts a meet-and-greet at Moxy on Friday. Come by to make some new friends in the LGBTQ community.
We The Kingz: Wet n’ Wild

Friday, August 19
10 p.m.
JR.’s Bar
1519 17th Street, N.W.
No cover
21+
Facebook
Rickey Rosé hosts the We The Kingz show featuring Artemis Demon, Atom Glambert, Baphomette and Phoenix King at JR.’s on Friday.
discoVERS Anniversary

Friday, August 19
10 p.m.
SAX
734 11th Street, N.W.
$30-$50
Facebook
discoVERS returns to SAX for its one year anniversary with DJs Robbie Leslie and Alexis Tucci. There will be a special performance by KC B. Yoncé. The event will sell out, so get your tickets now.
ASANA Series Closing Party

Saturday, August 20
5:30-11 p.m.
DC Brau Brewing Company
3178 Baldensburg Road, N.E., Suite B
Facebook
The ASANA World Series finishes with a bang. The Closing Party will be held at DC Brau on Saturday.
Miss Gay Eastern States America

Saturday, August 20
7-11 p.m.
Rehoboth Beach Convention Center
229 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
$20
Eventbrite
Are you in Rehoboth this weekend? Catch a drag competition at the Convention Center on Saturday.
The Trailer Park Ball

Sunday, August 21
8 p.m.
Freddie’s Beach Bar
555 23rd Street S
Arlington, Va.
Facebook
The Trailer Park Ball will be held on Sunday at Freddie’s. All Tips and donations are to benefit the Imperial Court of Washington and Reign X Charities.

D.C. native and award-winning comedian Sampson McCormick will perform in a series of shows from Thursday, Aug. 25 to Saturday, Aug. 27 at the DC Comedy Loft.
The themes of the shows will include cancel culture and sensitivity —especially as they relate to the rise in violence against comedians — LGBTQ issues and probe many of the other current topics that have been circulating in the news and in conversations on social media and among the public.
Tickets are available on DC Comedy Loft’s website.
Out & About
Reel Affirmations to screen new film
‘Sweetheart’ to run at Landmark Theaters E Street Cinema

Reel Affirmations, a branch of the DC Center for the LGBT Community that platforms LGBTQ film, will screen “Sweetheart” on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at Landmark Theaters E Street Cinema. This film will be screened as part of its monthly series.
“Sweetheart” is a coming-of-age film about a socially awkward and environmentally conscious teenager who meets a carefree lifeguard while on holiday with her family.
In-person tickets cost $15 and virtual tickets cost $10. Virtual tickets can be purchased on this link.
-
District of Columbia5 days ago
Another gay couple assaulted in D.C. in suspected hate crime
-
Television7 days ago
For Gaiman fans, ‘Sandman’ is a ‘Dream’ come true
-
Opinions7 days ago
A rare misstep for the amazing Nancy Pelosi
-
Local6 days ago
Comings & Goings
-
Books4 days ago
Two new political memoirs reveal how the sausage of democracy is made
-
Opinions6 days ago
Queer kids are not brainwashed
-
Florida7 days ago
Over 100 LGBTQ-themed books in a Florida school district labeled with advisory warning
-
Movies6 days ago
New doc illuminates Patricia Highsmith’s life and work